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SOUR
Sable Bell Lumen was raised by serial killers.
At The Lumen Lemon Farms, the lemons are bright, the pies are warm, and the soil is soaked with secrets. Her parents, Meril and Louise Lumen, have a kill, bury the body in the backyard, and plant a new lemon tree on the grave.
Sable never asked for this life, but she’s been trained to survive it—scrubbing blood from tile floors, dragging bodies to shallow plots, learning how to keep quiet.
Then Jones Law arrives.
Gentle, inquisitive, and full of life, he makes Sable feel everything she was taught to suppress. But love, in her family, is a death sentence. Her parents give her one
Kill him, or he joins the grove.
Sable thinks she knows how this ends, until a twist no one saw coming changes everything.
A haunting, slow-burn thriller about love, legacy, and the rot that hides beneath the roots.
At The Lumen Lemon Farms, the lemons are bright, the pies are warm, and the soil is soaked with secrets. Her parents, Meril and Louise Lumen, have a kill, bury the body in the backyard, and plant a new lemon tree on the grave.
Sable never asked for this life, but she’s been trained to survive it—scrubbing blood from tile floors, dragging bodies to shallow plots, learning how to keep quiet.
Then Jones Law arrives.
Gentle, inquisitive, and full of life, he makes Sable feel everything she was taught to suppress. But love, in her family, is a death sentence. Her parents give her one
Kill him, or he joins the grove.
Sable thinks she knows how this ends, until a twist no one saw coming changes everything.
A haunting, slow-burn thriller about love, legacy, and the rot that hides beneath the roots.
- GenresRomance
475 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2025
43 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 17, 2025
Fresh story idea
I really enjoyed the storyline.
I didn’t love the writing style, but I understand this is your first book and take that into account.
I often struggled to understand who was speaking and would have to go back a bit to make sure which character was speaking. Perhaps make that a bit more clear in your next book.
I wish you success in your future endeavors.
I really enjoyed the storyline.
I didn’t love the writing style, but I understand this is your first book and take that into account.
I often struggled to understand who was speaking and would have to go back a bit to make sure which character was speaking. Perhaps make that a bit more clear in your next book.
I wish you success in your future endeavors.
December 5, 2025
The plot in this book was so different & addicting to read. But unfortunately it needed some serious editing. There were so many repetitive lines & many errors. It was really hard to tell which character was speaking. I’m so torn because I know it’s a debut & I’m not expecting perfection. It’s just one of those books where I’d love to recommend but I can’t because it needs quite a bit of work. If I was the author, I would seriously consider hiring an editor & some beta readers to go through a round of edits & then re release with arc readers. I truly think it has so much potential!
November 5, 2025
Holy F***..... this book was SO addicting.
It had me feeling so many emotions. One minute I was sad, the next I was so angry and just wanted to help Sabel Bell. The writing was awesome, the author didn't over describe things and made the 600 pages so enjoyable even though it was a mindf*** of a book. I was here for all the ups and downs and highly recommended this gory book to people who like gore! I couldn't stop reading it!
It had me feeling so many emotions. One minute I was sad, the next I was so angry and just wanted to help Sabel Bell. The writing was awesome, the author didn't over describe things and made the 600 pages so enjoyable even though it was a mindf*** of a book. I was here for all the ups and downs and highly recommended this gory book to people who like gore! I couldn't stop reading it!
November 12, 2025
This is the first book I read by Shaw and she is an amazing writer kept me infested in the book the whole time the starting of the book being raised by serial killers like right there I knew I needed to k ow what happens to her and what happens with her parents and she starts dating and I’m like oh boy this isn’t gonna be good she had me right to the end of the book excellent and need to see more of her books
October 27, 2025
Spectacular
Sour is a romantic Thriller with twists in all the right places. Smith expertly weaves the Thriller plot with the romance plot, giving you just enough insight to keep you guessing while pining for The Love Story. Sable is like a precious stone i just wanted to protect. Absolutely recommend.
Sour is a romantic Thriller with twists in all the right places. Smith expertly weaves the Thriller plot with the romance plot, giving you just enough insight to keep you guessing while pining for The Love Story. Sable is like a precious stone i just wanted to protect. Absolutely recommend.
September 2, 2025
Wow! I have no words for how absolutely captivating this book was. I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book. This book has left me reeling. I highly suggest this book however you may want to check trigger warnings before reading as there some pretty gory scenes!
December 7, 2025
This story pulls you in from the beginning, with all sorts of twists and turns. Deeply rooted in navigating the hardest parts of life, with some hope and love thrown in. I appreciated how very difficult topics where handled and spoken about, with a sense of them coming from genuine people.
August 15, 2025
I can’t believe the ending of this book. No spoilers but my jaw dropped 😬 Also I really wanted to pet clementine 🐈 my jaw also dropped at the note! 📝 and I’m really glad I don’t enjoy running, lemons give me heartburn and I don’t have small legs 😉😂
January 6, 2026
This book has trigger warnings. Please read them.
- violent and graphic scenes
- blood and gore
- stalking
- child abuse
- child neglect
- abuse towards vulnerable individuals
- can be triggering for those with mental health issues
I could not put this book down. Someone needs to make this into a movie or tv mini series.
It is labeled as thriller but there is horror in it. It’s romantic.
This book will have you clutching your pearls one minute and crying your eyes out the next and then shocked and horrified the next.
You cannot predict what is going to happen. You can guess - but seriously - I am not sure you will figure out what is happening until the end.
There are sweet moments and terrifying moments.
You don’t know who to trust.
Also, there is so much Stockholm syndrome in this. There is so much disassociation and childhood attachment issues. There is so much mental health discussions that could be discussed after reading this book. I could see a literature class studying this book.
The ending is confusing and at the same time satisfying and it makes you long for more. You want to talk to the author and ask a million questions.
You want to hug the main female character all the time. She reminds me a little of Carrie from the Stephen King novels. Sheltered and isolated. But just in a different way. Instead of religion - your parents are serial killers.
Read this book! Seriously. This book is brilliant! I could not put it down.
And 3 cheers for Clementine!
- violent and graphic scenes
- blood and gore
- stalking
- child abuse
- child neglect
- abuse towards vulnerable individuals
- can be triggering for those with mental health issues
I could not put this book down. Someone needs to make this into a movie or tv mini series.
It is labeled as thriller but there is horror in it. It’s romantic.
This book will have you clutching your pearls one minute and crying your eyes out the next and then shocked and horrified the next.
You cannot predict what is going to happen. You can guess - but seriously - I am not sure you will figure out what is happening until the end.
There are sweet moments and terrifying moments.
You don’t know who to trust.
Also, there is so much Stockholm syndrome in this. There is so much disassociation and childhood attachment issues. There is so much mental health discussions that could be discussed after reading this book. I could see a literature class studying this book.
The ending is confusing and at the same time satisfying and it makes you long for more. You want to talk to the author and ask a million questions.
You want to hug the main female character all the time. She reminds me a little of Carrie from the Stephen King novels. Sheltered and isolated. But just in a different way. Instead of religion - your parents are serial killers.
Read this book! Seriously. This book is brilliant! I could not put it down.
And 3 cheers for Clementine!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
We have a story about a very sheltered young woman. Trudging forward aimlessly with quite the traumatic past; she's forced to live a life forged from blood, death, dismemberment and digging graves. Pleasant upbringing right? Our neurodivergent FMC knows absolutely nothing of the world besides her crazy, neurotic serial killer parents and the love she wishes they would give her.
She's given a choice. Kill someone and join her parents as a killer or be killed by them. Seems like a simple choice; or is it? Would being like them be okay? Or would dying be the sweeter alternative to this life of hell?
This slow burn romantic thriller takes a turn when you meet the "mark". Her chosen lamb for slaughter in the form of a delicious man she happens to meet. While she decides "Will She or Won't She" some craziness continues to ensue at every turn. Is she losing it? Are her parents losing it? Will you figure it out before you reach the end of the book?
I for one enjoyed the slow burn. By about the halfway mark is where this book starts to really fly! She does a great job at mis direction for some of the things that are going on in this novel to keep you guessing at what is happening next. This IS a standalone novel, bit it definitely leaves it open for more and I for one would enjoy MORE.
She's given a choice. Kill someone and join her parents as a killer or be killed by them. Seems like a simple choice; or is it? Would being like them be okay? Or would dying be the sweeter alternative to this life of hell?
This slow burn romantic thriller takes a turn when you meet the "mark". Her chosen lamb for slaughter in the form of a delicious man she happens to meet. While she decides "Will She or Won't She" some craziness continues to ensue at every turn. Is she losing it? Are her parents losing it? Will you figure it out before you reach the end of the book?
I for one enjoyed the slow burn. By about the halfway mark is where this book starts to really fly! She does a great job at mis direction for some of the things that are going on in this novel to keep you guessing at what is happening next. This IS a standalone novel, bit it definitely leaves it open for more and I for one would enjoy MORE.
January 3, 2026
Wow! Talk about a psychological thriller, this one was really good and nothing like I’ve read before. I’m still trying to process the ending! I wasn’t expecting that at all.
This book follows Sable who had been raised her entire life by serial killers and they had basically held her their prisoner and made her clean up their messes after they had a fresh kill. They homeschooled her so she had hardly no contact to the outside world. She was so tired of their life style. She wasn’t even allowed to call them mom and dad.
They eventually moved to a lemon farm and her mom opened a bakery and that’s when things really started to off kilter for them.
Then she met Jones and things started getting sloppy and the tables started to turn on her parents. There is so many twists that I didn’t see coming, or I knew they were coming but not in the way they unfolded!
I really enjoyed this book. I know she has re-vamped it so it’s not as long and did some edits to the new version.
This book follows Sable who had been raised her entire life by serial killers and they had basically held her their prisoner and made her clean up their messes after they had a fresh kill. They homeschooled her so she had hardly no contact to the outside world. She was so tired of their life style. She wasn’t even allowed to call them mom and dad.
They eventually moved to a lemon farm and her mom opened a bakery and that’s when things really started to off kilter for them.
Then she met Jones and things started getting sloppy and the tables started to turn on her parents. There is so many twists that I didn’t see coming, or I knew they were coming but not in the way they unfolded!
I really enjoyed this book. I know she has re-vamped it so it’s not as long and did some edits to the new version.
December 2, 2025
SOUR is the kind of book that crawls under your skin, settles in your chest, and refuses to leave quietly.
Shae Smith delivers a story that is equal parts heartbreak and hunger — a romance that feels too real, too sharp, too honest in the way it cuts and heals at the same time. These characters are messy, magnetic, wounded, and so painfully human that you can’t help rooting for them even when they’re spiraling.
The chemistry? Electric.
The tension? Thick enough to taste.
The emotional damage? …I’m still recovering.
What I loved the most is how Smith writes love that isn’t easy, isn’t neat, and isn’t always pretty — but it’s real. It’s love that drags you through the sour to earn the sweet. The character growth, the broken pieces they try to hide, the way they pull each other apart and still reach for one another — it’s all breathtaking in that “I need a minute to breathe” way.
Shae Smith delivers a story that is equal parts heartbreak and hunger — a romance that feels too real, too sharp, too honest in the way it cuts and heals at the same time. These characters are messy, magnetic, wounded, and so painfully human that you can’t help rooting for them even when they’re spiraling.
The chemistry? Electric.
The tension? Thick enough to taste.
The emotional damage? …I’m still recovering.
What I loved the most is how Smith writes love that isn’t easy, isn’t neat, and isn’t always pretty — but it’s real. It’s love that drags you through the sour to earn the sweet. The character growth, the broken pieces they try to hide, the way they pull each other apart and still reach for one another — it’s all breathtaking in that “I need a minute to breathe” way.
August 16, 2025
This captivating novel plunges into the enigmatic world of the Lumen family, unearthing their haunting mysteries. Brace yourself for a riveting blend of romance, suspense, and unexpected twists that will compel you to reassess the essence of familial ties. Sable’s transformative odyssey will tug at your heart with its poignant narrative that lingers in your thoughts long after the last page is turned. Prepare for an emotionally charged rollercoaster of revelations that will leave you spellbound. Dive into this mesmerizing tale and experience a soul-stirring journey through love, betrayal, and the unending allure of lemons.
January 10, 2026
Ok. This book was way better than I expected. I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoy it. At first I was worried because there was a lot of detail, and I thought the author wouldn’t be able to keep up and the story would fall short. But even with a simple plot (a girl born into a family a serial killers struggles with right and wrong , love and abandonment, and finally meets someone who has her questioning everything she knew to be true) , the author was able to keep it fulfilling and entertaining. I thought I’d hate the characters (which you’re almost supposed to) but I thought they were well written and multifaceted. My first 5 star read of 2026. Really loved this.
January 28, 2026
Imagine growing up and your parents have been serial killers since you were born and you are here to clean up their messes and dig the holes under the lemon trees for the bodies to be buried! You are told you have to have a kill yourself when you are of the age of 21. You meet your prey, but can you do it? Can you kill some one who has finally showed you love? The only complaint I have regarding this book is I think it’s a little too long. It kept me interested and there were times I could not put it down just wanting to know what was going to happen!
Check your triggers, there are a lot!! I rated this book 4.5 stars.
Check your triggers, there are a lot!! I rated this book 4.5 stars.
November 3, 2025
This book was definitely a good read. Though be warned there are a lot of murders and a couple spicy moments.
Sable Bell grows up with two parents that are serial murderers. When she turns 21 they say it’s time for her to start killing people also. She doesn’t want to be like her parents. She wants to escape and have her own life with no murders and no more cleaning up after her parents. She meets Jones and despite telling her parents she is going to kill him, she is hoping he will be her means to escape.
Sable Bell grows up with two parents that are serial murderers. When she turns 21 they say it’s time for her to start killing people also. She doesn’t want to be like her parents. She wants to escape and have her own life with no murders and no more cleaning up after her parents. She meets Jones and despite telling her parents she is going to kill him, she is hoping he will be her means to escape.
December 29, 2025
Will the lemon fall far from the tree?
When Sable Bell turns 21, she must kill the man she loves or risk the wrath of her serial killer parents. Raised in the most bizarre and twisted of circumstances, Sable's life on the Lumen Lemon Farm has been anything but sweet. Despite the horror she has been exposed to since childhood, Sable's heart remains pure, and she lacks the killer instincts of her parents.
But when it's a case of kill or be killed, will Sable rise to the challenge?
Find out in this propulsive serial killer thriller that will keep you guessing into the night.
When Sable Bell turns 21, she must kill the man she loves or risk the wrath of her serial killer parents. Raised in the most bizarre and twisted of circumstances, Sable's life on the Lumen Lemon Farm has been anything but sweet. Despite the horror she has been exposed to since childhood, Sable's heart remains pure, and she lacks the killer instincts of her parents.
But when it's a case of kill or be killed, will Sable rise to the challenge?
Find out in this propulsive serial killer thriller that will keep you guessing into the night.
January 8, 2026
Wow! For a debut novel just wow. I will admit I struggled starting the book it had me feeling uneasy and upset. But a grind of mine pushed me to keep reading and I am so happy she did. This book will mess with your head and leave you wanting more. It was so good! I give it 4 stars bc some spots felt dragged out for me and I would skip a head a little to see what happened next. Also there were some editing errors that left me confused and felt a little like I read it wrong. But really such a great book!
Also the ending 🤯
Also the ending 🤯
January 12, 2026
What an original, unique take on a Romantic thriller!! I enjoyed this book so much and the author did a fantastic job at telling such gruesome story. I had such a love hate relationship with Louise! Not sure how the author made me feel bad about what happened to serial killer at the end but she sure did! Ha! Even though I felt the book could have been just a tad shorter, I never got bored! There was a point where I guessed the ending, but it was fun to work my way to the end. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
November 24, 2025
The book was very good but also very long…..I felt like we were covering the same things over and over
But that being said it was well written and made me love the main character and hate a main sidekick
Sable Bell was raised by serial killers, and on her 21st birthday she’s expected to make her first kill…..guess who turned 21 in the first chapter
Check triggers….there are lots of emotions while reading
But that being said it was well written and made me love the main character and hate a main sidekick
Sable Bell was raised by serial killers, and on her 21st birthday she’s expected to make her first kill…..guess who turned 21 in the first chapter
Check triggers….there are lots of emotions while reading
December 14, 2025
Disturbing
Sable is the daughter of two serial killers who have forced her to clean up their messes since she was young. Upon turning 21, her parents force her to kill or they will kill her. She meets Jones, who her parents think is the perfect target, but Sable has feelings for him. This is dark. It’s hard not to feel sorry for Sable, but you also want to scream through a lot of this book.
Sable is the daughter of two serial killers who have forced her to clean up their messes since she was young. Upon turning 21, her parents force her to kill or they will kill her. She meets Jones, who her parents think is the perfect target, but Sable has feelings for him. This is dark. It’s hard not to feel sorry for Sable, but you also want to scream through a lot of this book.
December 15, 2025
Interesting POV, fun read
Such an interesting story. I was never sure which way things were going with so many twist and turns. Definitely didnt see that ending coming! Very interesting POV throughout the book. Well thought out characters and good development with our main character. Her unreliability thatvis tainted with trauma really sets well for this story telling style. A fun read.
Such an interesting story. I was never sure which way things were going with so many twist and turns. Definitely didnt see that ending coming! Very interesting POV throughout the book. Well thought out characters and good development with our main character. Her unreliability thatvis tainted with trauma really sets well for this story telling style. A fun read.
November 15, 2025
My eyes burn!
Whatever you do please pick a day to read this where you are totally free the next day…because you will stay up all night to finish this! I read through this book in one day stayed up til 4am to finish it! It has such a unique plot and the twist at the end is chef kiss! Mystery meets love in the best way!
Whatever you do please pick a day to read this where you are totally free the next day…because you will stay up all night to finish this! I read through this book in one day stayed up til 4am to finish it! It has such a unique plot and the twist at the end is chef kiss! Mystery meets love in the best way!
November 22, 2025
I'm glad I don't have nice legs, I only like lemonade in my mixed drinks, and I am definitely not a runner or a biker. But that ending....Gaaahhh! Dammit Shae! :)
Sable Bell, raised by serial killers. I saw this book all over my TikTok and had to grab it. Thank you to Shae Smith for the free e-book. I was captivated by this story. So many emotions.
Sable Bell, raised by serial killers. I saw this book all over my TikTok and had to grab it. Thank you to Shae Smith for the free e-book. I was captivated by this story. So many emotions.
December 14, 2025
Holy Airball
This book is INTENSE!!!! I found myself shouting I FREAKING KNEW IT, then saying well wait. This book needs to be adapted into a movie STAT!!!!! The ending is M.Night Shamalan worthy! Im not joking the absolute roller coaster this book took me on was absolutely mind bendingly intense. Read all the triggers cause whoooo the trauma this book brushed!!!
This book is INTENSE!!!! I found myself shouting I FREAKING KNEW IT, then saying well wait. This book needs to be adapted into a movie STAT!!!!! The ending is M.Night Shamalan worthy! Im not joking the absolute roller coaster this book took me on was absolutely mind bendingly intense. Read all the triggers cause whoooo the trauma this book brushed!!!
December 23, 2025
oh wow!
This is one of the most unique books i have ever read. Phenomenal from the beginning to the end. My favorite phrase in the book was in the conclusion chapters, “this isnt your first rodeo.” If you like books about serial killers then you will love the family senerio of this story. I hope to see more books by this auther.
This is one of the most unique books i have ever read. Phenomenal from the beginning to the end. My favorite phrase in the book was in the conclusion chapters, “this isnt your first rodeo.” If you like books about serial killers then you will love the family senerio of this story. I hope to see more books by this auther.
December 27, 2025
Loved this book!
This got me from the very beginning. The story line is so good! Yes there are some errors through out the book, which happens with Indy authors. But as soon as this is picked up in the mainstream it will be a best seller! Oh my GOD when do we get a book 2?? I can't wait!
This got me from the very beginning. The story line is so good! Yes there are some errors through out the book, which happens with Indy authors. But as soon as this is picked up in the mainstream it will be a best seller! Oh my GOD when do we get a book 2?? I can't wait!
January 21, 2026
A story based on a serial killer couple Louise and Meryl , their daughter Sable Bell living a life that she doesn’t deserve. A cozy Bakery, a fresh a citrus lemon farm.
Bell meets Jones Law and her life tangles up. Highly recommend this book if you like thrillers. What I liked most was that the story keeps you intrigued and you don’t see the big twist coming.
Bell meets Jones Law and her life tangles up. Highly recommend this book if you like thrillers. What I liked most was that the story keeps you intrigued and you don’t see the big twist coming.
September 7, 2025
Sour was really, really good! The characters are relatable and lovable, at least, the right ones are! There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming at all! It's well written. You can really see and feel Shae Smith's heart and soul in the book!
September 8, 2025
This was everything I didn't know I needed in a romantic thriller! A true thrill read that kept me guessing even when I thought I had it all figured out. If you're in the mood for a slowwww burn, lots of tension, suspense, alllll the feelings, and a wild ending, this is the book for you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews